HOW TO BE A JOURNALIST 2016/17 In association with the NCTJ
Inside n
Advice from top editors n Directory of courses n How recent graduates got their break
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Start you career in Journalism at Leeds Trinity University
Our Centre for Journalism has an enviable reputation for innovative teaching, employer partnerships and getting its graduates into jobs. The Centre for Journalism produces graduates with the multi-media skills they need to succeed in industry, leading the way in teaching mobile journalism skills. The result? Our alumni can be found in newsrooms and broadcasting studios across the UK and the world. Join one of our NCTJ/BJTC accredited courses and kick-start your career.
Our Undergraduate and Postgraduate Journalism courses start in September. Interested in finding out more? Contact enquiries@leedstrinity.ac.uk or 01132837150 www.leedstrinity.ac.uk /leedstrinity 2 l 2016 Press Gazette
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Contents 4-5
Introduction from Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford and NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher
7
How NCTJ set former Guardian editor on his way to win a Pulitzer Prize
9
How to choose the right course for you
11
Advice from the editors
13
Get stuck in to shorthand early on - and you could end up at Sky Sports
15
How perseverance led to success with the help of the Journalism Diversity Fund
4
7
11
28
21-27 Complete listing of NCTJ courses 28
Earn while you learn as a journalism apprentice
31
If I knew then, what I know now
Survive and thrive in today’s digital newsroom. Learn to work across print, television, radio, social media or online. Study BA Multimedia Journalism at Essex. u www.essex.ac.uk/see/journalism
Our course is fully accredited by the NCTJ and BJTC.
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Press Gazette 2016 l 3
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Journalism,
a career for romantics Are you a romantic? Do you like the idea of climbing on to your white charger each day and fighting the good fight to dispel ignorance and report the news without fear or favour? I realise that I am in danger of sounding like Ron Burgundy here but I believe that journalism really does give you a chance to do that. Every day you can provide a voice for someone who doesn’t have one and to use the megaphone your job gives you to make a difference in the world. You also get to witness important events unfolding first hand and have a stab at writing the first draft of history. So if you are a romantic, perhaps journalism is the career for you. A more practically-minded person might opt for accountancy, the civil service or teaching. Pretty much any other profession you can think of is going to be more secure than journalism and many will be better paid. The industry has gone through seismic change over the last few years and the era when you
In association with NCTJ
Dominic Ponsford
is the editor of journalism news website Press Gazette
could enjoy one reasonably well-paid career in the regional or national press is over. The flipside of that is the fact new online publishers are launching every day. The career opportunities in the profession are as ample as they ever were. But you will need to be fleet of foot and adaptable to survive in the journalism industry of today. The best way to decide whether this is the career for you is to secure some work experience by emailing, then phoning, then emailing, then phoning again your local paper or a national publication you would like to work for. You will vastly improve your chances of getting a job in journalism if you get the necessary professional training. The core skills you need are newswriting, shorthand and media law. The National Council for the Training of Journalists accredits courses which provide those skills and more to the standard required by editors. That’s why Press Gazette works with them on producing this guide. There are good journalism courses which are not accredited by the NCTJ, but there are many
more bad ones. I would argue that getting on a course which has the NCTJ’s approval should give you peace of mind that you won’t be wasting your time or money. If you are 18 and dead set on a career in journalism I’d recommend seeking an apprenticeship. It will save you a small fortune in university tuition fees and will get you well on your way in journalism while your peers are playing drinking games in the students’ union bar. NCTJ-accredited degrees are a good option if you want to enjoy the university experience. If you can afford it, a good first degree in something else with give you more options followed up by a journalism post-graduate qualification. This has the advantage of being the route most current editors went down so is something they tend to look kindly on. Whatever route you choose, good luck and I hope this guide will help you make up your mind. You can sign up for a free daily industry news alert here:pressgazette.co.uk/subscribe
NCTJ Accredited Journalism Courses at Lambeth College - The Careers College
We are proud to have graduates going on to become world class journalists. Our graduates have secured employment at Sky, ITN, BBC Traineeship, The Daily Mail, The Mail Online, The Independent, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Sun,Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, FHM, NME and regional newspapers. We have affordable, award winning NCTJ courses at levels to suit trainees who have set their sights on journalism: • NCTJ Fast-track Newspaper - An 18 week course, accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists providing trainee journalists with the knowledge and skills for professional entry level newspaper journalism. Trainees will take NCTJ accredited exams and are required to undertake work placements (September 2016 and February 2017 starts). • NCTJ Fast-track Magazine - An 18 week course, accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists providing trainee journalists with the knowledge and skills for professional entry level magazine journalism. Trainees will take NCTJ accredited exams and are required to undertake work placements (September 2016 and February 2017 starts). • Apprenticeship Scheme - In partnership with employers including BBC Radio 4, Sky News, Sky Sports News, The Independent, The Evening Standard, The Daily Telegraph, Mark Allen Group, Archant London, Kent Messenger Group, Unisnotforme.com, Haymarket and Brighton and Hove Council press office (September 2016 start). Trainees will be taught by journalists with years of experience including visits from London’s top media figures. These in the past have included Editor of Press Gazette, the chairman of the Mark Allen Magazine Group and London Editorial Director from Archant London.
Lambeth College The Careers College
4 l 2016 Press Gazette
Apply Now Online or visit us to pick an application form
lambethcollege.ac.uk 020 7501 5000 www.pressgazette.co.uk
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Why old values could help you thrive in the new media age “With an NCTJ qualification, you will feel confident that you can make a contribution to any media organisation”.
Kim Fletcher is chairman for the NCTJ and a former editorial director of The Telegraph Where do you get your news? Facebook? Twitter? That funny link your mate sent you? It’s great these days, because you’re in charge. New technologies are doing for all those old, establishment journalists who try to dictate what you should read. Why should they define what is news? Now anyone with a mobile phone can find out what is going on – and anyone with a social media account can be a journalist. Except have you noticed that there is a lot of stuff flying around Twitter and Facebook that isn’t actually true: riots that didn’t take place, footballers who aren’t up on sex charges, attacks that haven’t happened? And that a lot of the stories that do stand up seem to lead back to a newspaper or a broadcaster, rather than a citizen journalist? That’s bad for those who believe that news is too important to be in the hands of capitalist enterprises looking to make money out of it, good for those who believe there are things such as facts and that they matter. Good too for those who like news so much that they want to work in it – and be paid for doing so. People, perhaps, like you. If you are interested in journalism you’ve www.pressgazette.co.uk
probably heard that the entire media economy is threatened. The old certainties that came from selling news and the advertising space around it have gone. Newspaper sales are in terrifying decline, advertising revenues falling even faster. Broadcasters that once believed families would always sit down to watch news at 10pm now know they don’t – and are learning to compete with digital businesses that offer on-demand, flexible timing. But someone is still making money out of news. The world’s five biggest companies by market capitalisation are Apple, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook, each of which takes some revenue from recycling the work of traditional media organisations – those same businesses they have kicked half to death over the last decade. The same businesses, indeed, that continue to operate with traditional values: factual accuracy, objectivity, journalistic integrity. These old timers are still working out how to make money in the new world (though most newspapers do), but understand that, in a world in which we are deluged with more and more “stuff” – stories, rumours, jokes, surprises – information we can believe in will be more prized. New companies are discovering that too. Stories subjected to a rigorous checking process are worth more than stuff that is
published without care. When people see the name BBC on a piece, for instance, they know it has been through an editorial process. The name of a local paper gives a piece more credibility than the name of a Twitter account. It’s nice that people take a view, but sometimes we’d like some facts too. If they are to thrive, both new and old media companies need new talent that not only believes in the value of journalism – let’s not forget that this is a trade that helps keep democracy on the straight and narrow – but also how to produce it in the new world: how to publish for different media, take video, research data, penetrate social media. The journalists who will find a paid job are those who show the curiosity, challenge and mischief that journalists have always shown, harness ing the skills that allow them to fit straight into a newsroom. That’s why courses accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists are such a good start. The skills that are taught change as the industry changes, but the underlying values we insist on do not. We believe that journalism is an important craft, that lively media are essential to democracy, that it is harder for powerful figures to do bad things when journalists are there to keep an eye on them. If you believe those things too, think where an NCTJ qualification could take you. Press Gazette 2016 l 5
BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism
• Vocational and innovative programme designed to meet both employer and student’s needs • Multi-disciplinary training in TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, and online journalism • Accreditation from professional bodies • Complete a year’s placement and make invaluable industry contacts • Consistently high graduate employment rates of over 95%
Where you belong
#belongatbu Find out more about our BA and MA courses in Journalism and Communication: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/media 6 l 2015 Press Gazette
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How NCTJ set former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger on his way to win a Pulitzer Prize Alan Rusbridger is a digital visionary who led The Guardian’s online expansion from the mid 1990s onwards. But he still believes that some of the more traditional skills he learned from the NCTJ are among the most important. Journalism is not always the best paid of professions, but the sky is the limit in terms of what you can achieve with your career. Alan Rusbridger completed his NCTJ qualification at Harlow College in 1979, after previously studying English at Cambridge University. His journalism career took him first to the Cambridge Evening News before joining The Guardian where he was eventually made editor in 1995. Rusbridger stepped down as editor last year and is now principal of Lady Margaret Hall College, Oxford. As Guardian editor he earned a £395,000 salary and led investigations which included: the Wikileaks release of thousands of documents about the Iraq war and Edward Snowden’s revelations about state surveillance. He led The Guardian to becoming one of the biggest digital news organisations in the world, investing significant resources in online journalism before any other UK national newspaper. Under Rusbridger, The Guardian was the first UK newspaper to win a Pulitzer Prize (the top award for journalism in the USA). Over his career he has interviewed and given jobs to hundreds of journalists, including many graduate trainees. Press Gazette asked him what advice he would give to a young person considering a career in journalism. He said: “Try visiting any country where free speech is discouraged or crushed and you realise how important journalism is. “It may not be the most secure profession. It’s never going to be the best paid. But it is incredibly important that societies have access to reliable information. “That people can tell truth from lies. That there are witnesses to how we are governed, to how giant corporations behave or what happens in the legal or health systems. Democracies only www.pressgazette.co.uk
work when there is transparency and people are held accountable. That’s why journalism matters. “When I started out, the traditional route into journalism was via local newspapers and vocational training – in my case at Harlow Tech. We studied law, shorthand and local government. Of these the most important was shorthand. “I still think it’s an incredibly valuable skill. To be able to capture what people are saying as they say it – and to be able to read it back later – is a fantastically useful ability in life, never mind reporting. “I know there are brilliant digital recorders built into every smart phone today. But shorthand removes the need to spend time-consuming hours transcribing tapes. “So, the old skills are still necessary. If I had to pick one new skill it would be the ability to mine the ocean of data on social media for journalistic ends. “Back in the day when journalists held the megaphone we got used to telling the readers things without ever listening much to what they could tell us. “All that’s changed in the last few years, with billions of people online and publishing content. They are still our readers. But they know stuff we don’t – and the ability to get to the ones who know the stuff we need is a new and vital skill. “Of course, there are many other things journalists today need to know.
“When I started, it mattered only that you knew how to use words. Now you need to understand how to use video, and audio and build interactives. “But the fundamentals don’t change. You are there to be society’s eyes and ears. You’re there to verify what happened and what didn’t. You are the watchdog. “Most days you’ll have no idea what you’ll be doing when you walk into work. What you do matters. You may even have fun.”
THE GUARDIAN FACT BOX Katharine Viner succeeded Alan Rusbridger in 2015 as editor-in-chief of Guardian News and Media. In addition to The Guardian, GNM publishes Sunday newspaper The Observer and website TheGuardian.com which publishes separate editions for the UK, US and Australia. GNM employs more than 800 journalists. After several years of rapid expansion it has contracted over the last year with around 70 journalists taking voluntary redundancy. The Guardian operates a graduate trainee scheme and also offers work experience opportunities.
More information: workforus.theguardian.com/careers/editorial/
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University of Sunderland All courses accredited by the National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ) BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism BA (Hons) Sports Journalism BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism MA Sports Journalism
| | | |
BA (Hons) Journalism BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism MA Journalism MA Magazine Journalism
Broadcast Journalism also accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) Magazine and Fashion Journalism also accredited by the Professional Publishers Association (PPA)
Outstanding Facilities The mediaHUB A bustling multimedia newsroom giving you a real taste of life as a working journalist. The mediaHUB runs websites covering sport, news, entertainments and fashion. Four Journalism suites. Broadcast Journalism Newsroom with Newscutter, Burli and ENPS software.
“What really stood out for me about Sunderland was the wealth of hands-on projects on offer” Josh Halliday – Journalism Graduate Home News Reporter at The Guardian
Six Radio studios including a transmission suite for 107 Spark FM, our student-run community radio station. Two TV studios, complete with a green room. Live Sky feed and Off-air recording facility. 203-seat cinema with full HD projection and surround sound.
“Get as much handson work experience as possible”
“The access we were given to Sunderland AFC and Newcastle United FC was of great benefit”
Zoe Beaty – Journalism Graduate
Jamie Orrell – Sports Journalism Graduate
Staff Features Writer, Grazia magazine
Production Assistant on Football Week at Future Publishing
For further information email: admenquiry@sunderland.ac.uk or Tel: +44 (0)191 515 3000 8 l 2016 Press Gazette www.pressgazette.co.uk or visit: www.sunderland.ac.uk
How to
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choose
the right course for you You want to learn the skills to become a journalist. You want to study on an accredited course. But how to choose which one? NCTJ accreditation has been awarded to more than 80 courses running at 41 centres around the United Kingdom. All have proved to a panel of experienced editors they can meet the industry standard. Location could play a big part in your decision – there’ll be a course not too far from where you live. Cost will also be a factor. But think too about the type of course that would suit you best. Around one-third of accredited courses are undergraduate degrees lasting three or four years. The diploma is embedded into the course, so students work to pass NCTJ exams in subjects such as public affairs and media law and regulation alongside working towards the university degree. There will be fewer hours each week in the classroom than for the shorter courses, but there’s time to take a more academic approach to areas such as the history and ethics of journalism. Many universities have invested in modern newsroom and broadcasting facilities. As well as formal classroom tuition, students will often hone their practical skills with a series of news day exercises run to tight deadlines. Potential journalists with a first degree under their belt can choose to stay in higher education for a postgraduate course. All the elements of the diploma are still included, but masters courses also add broader and deeper academic modules to the mix. www.pressgazette.co.uk
As with BA courses, several accredited MAs focus on specialist journalism areas such as sports, magazine, newspapers or fashion. Masters students usually find that their holidays will be taken up doing work placements. Part-time courses offer an option for people who are looking to ‘earn while they learn’ and make the career change to journalism. Typically, students attend classes one evening a week and all day on Saturdays. It’s a substantial commitment, and students must be singleminded enough to fit their journalism studies into already busy lives. The shortest NCTJ courses are known as fast-tracks. They offer the prospect of passing the diploma in a matter of months. Expect a full-on experience with little time for anything except studying to pass the exams and getting your stories published for real on a regular placement. Typically, fast-tracks will give you 9-5 classroom work for at least four days each week. And a large part of those hours will be spent getting from 0 to 100 words per minute in shorthand. Expect eight hours or more of shorthand lessons per week, backed up by daily practice at home. Postgraduate students looking for a quick route to gaining vocational skills fill most of the places on fast-track courses. There are exceptions, but tutors report that younger post-A level students tend to find the intensity of the experience overwhelming.
Centres running fast-tracks will often run two courses a year, one starting after the summer holidays and a second early in the New Year. The pace is a little slower on the many academic year diploma courses, but the focus is still wholly on gaining the diploma qualification. These courses, running September-July, are often the preferred option for candidates who have recently left school, although they also attract older students. There is a bit more time to learn shorthand. But don’t be fooled into taking it easy in those first few weeks. Many former students end up wishing they’d worked harder earlier on their shorthand. Still undecided? Talk to the people who run the courses that pique your interest. You will want to be sure you are making the right choice before enrolling on a course.
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SPONSORED FEATURE
In association with NCTJ
The skills you will need for the information age Professor Richard Sambrook, Cardiff University
Cardiff University’s speakers ensure each course is relevant to the rapidly changing requirments of employers. Why train to be a journalist? It’s a reasonable question as we read about the many apparent crises in the media. But the answer is simple. We are living in the information age – and journalists are information professionals whose skills are increasingly needed. As technology transforms the media the journalism skills of gathering, verifying, assessing and analysing information, skills in fashioning a compelling story and in engaging the public are in higher demand than ever. Of course those skills, and the tools a journalist uses, are changing rapidly with new technology. Today, knowing to ask “Who, What, Where, When and Why” is not enough. Today’s journalists need to understand the dynamics of social media, how to use and visualise data, how to tell video stories at 20 minutes for documentary, 2 minutes for a news programme or 20 seconds for Instagram. They need to understand the new relationship with readers and audiences. Journalism is no longer about telling the public what you think they need to know. It’s now a collaborative exercise, working with the public to explore the world and engaging them in a more personal one-to-one relationship than the sometimes lofty tones of the past. Underpinning all this, the core skills remain essential. Students need a thorough grounding in media law, public administration, media ethics, interviewing and reporting skills, tight writing and editing. If traditional newsroom jobs are disappearing there is no question that new roles are developing fast. The sub-editors of the past are the social media community managers of the future; the editors’ back bench may be gone but the 10 l 2016 Press Gazette
UGC desk is here for the foreseeable future. And where once there were just a few large media organisations now, in some sense, every company is a media company looking at how to engage the public with information and stories. None of this is easy. It takes skill, judgement, critical awareness, and an ever wider range of technical abilities. Which is why good training is essential. Today’s journalism courses have to develop as swiftly as the industry they serve. The best place digital and social media at the heart of what they do, embrace data journalism, multi-platform publishing and are closely tied into industry with guest speakers, work placements and collaborations to ensure they are relevant to the rapidly changing requirements of employers. They also innovate across other disciplines. That’s why at the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural studies we have launched new courses with other departments; an MBA in Media Management with Cardiff Business School or an MSc in Computational Journalism with the School of Computer Science and
Case studies and direct access to media leaders helps provide insight into what’s driving the media revolution. Informatics. And we have developed specialist modules in Business, Politics, Sport, Data, Lifestyle and Consumer journalism to ensure students leave with a level of expertise in at least one key area. Our experience shows this makes a difference to employability – and supports our record of 90% of post graduates getting a job within a year of leaving. Today’s journalism graduates also have to understand how and why news and media are changing. Case studies and direct access to media leaders provides insight into what’s driving the revolution the media is currently experiencing. Which provides another compelling reason to consider journalism as a career. At a time of great change, there is great opportunity. We can’t say what roles or careers will be like in ten years time. But for those with commitment and self-motivation, undaunted by competition or the need for hard work, and crucially with a good foundation of training, journalism skills can take them a long way.
www.pressgazette.co.uk
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Advice from the editors If you are lucky enough to get an interview for a journalism job the chances are it will be with the managing editor (rather than the editor). Here three leading managing editors share their tips.
Paul Clarkson The Sun Consider why you want to do journalism. It can be a wonderful career, but it might not be as lucrative as other careers unless you are extremely talented or fortunate. Consider how you intend to stand out from the crowd in what is a very competitive industry. There are good university degrees and courses that can give you a solid grounding in the fundamentals of media law, ethics and journalistic practice. The rest cannot be taught. We are most impressed by aspiring journalists who have shown initiative. There are no longer any excuses for not being a published journalist by the time we consider you. There are school, college and community newspapers and websites in great need of content. Anyone can publish a blog, anyone can uncover a story of real public interest.There are so many platforms and forms of journalism now. Have a thick skin when it comes to personal criticism, but be sensitive to the impact what you write or create will have on the public. A thorough grasp of media law, privacy and data protection law is a starting point. An ability to research and check facts. A questioning nature, but also a natural charm can go a long way. An ability to handle pressure situations. A journalist in the digital age has to deal with immediate deadlines. They have to ensure their content is accurate or there can be severe consequences for the title they work for. They also have to be able to face hostile situations and ask questions that would make others wince. Most journalists go through the university route, but it should not be the only way to a career in journalism. Sun publisher News UK have engaged with students as young as 16 and we are considering apprenticeships for the myriad of jobs available in this industry. Less than a quarter of staff at a traditional newspaper will be reporters. There are highly-skilled artists and designers, subs and picture editors who are just as important. www.pressgazette.co.uk
Our industry is evolving rapidly and we are recruiting people through very non-traditional avenues. These include You Tube stars who create fantastically innovative video or people who have created niche expertise in certain fields. But a simple CV, examples of published works and cover letter can still work.Experience trumps academic qualifications every single time. A journalist needs to be able to work well in a team. A sense of humour goes a long way. A dose of humility combined with confidence is important.
Robin Searle Travel Weekly Trade titles have the same basic requirements as consumer titles when it comes to recruiting journalists. One of the challenges of working for a trade title in an ‘attractive’ industry like travel is the misperception that we write about travel rather than the business of travel. There are opportunities to write colour, particularly in our features sections and niche magazines and guides, but the underlying driver for our content is how it informs, educates and helps our readers do business. Like any publication or website, we have specialist news and feature writers, and specialists within those teams. The majority of our journalists have a background in local, regional or national newspapers – however, the contraction of that particular sector means the pool of available talent coming through the newspaper route is becoming smaller and respected websites are slowly becoming more reliable sources of quality candidates. Solid grounding and training is the first thing we look for when recruiting journalists and that is why newspapers continue to be the benchmark of quality. The traditional NCTJ basics of news reporting, story and feature structure, media law and government (and preferably shorthand!) are still the building blocks upon which all good journalism careers are based. In addition to those traditional building blocks of print journalism, an understanding of how those skills translate to production and new media is also increasingly desirable.
TRAINING 2016
Experience is key, particularly when we are looking for someone who will be capable of immersing themselves in a particular industry and sector and quickly developing a level of expertise to be able to write about and for that market with authority. We occasionally take on new starters if they have a solid bank of work experience and have completed a well-respected and recognised journalism qualification, but typically we would be looking at those with a minimum of two years’ experience of frontline journalism for a junior role. When it comes to applying for a job, research and understanding of the company you are courting is key. There is a wealth of information available online and in print, so using that to demonstrate your understanding of a media portfolio, target markets and core content will not only impress potential recruiters, but will also demonstrate your ability to embrace the fundamentals of the role for which you’re applying and the career path you’ve chosen to follow.
Jenny Stevens Vice Tenacity, commitment and passion are what I look for in journalists. When I was starting out, I was told that 90 per cent of journalism is actually wanting to do journalism, and I think that’s still true. Finding stories is hard graft, and we’re looking for people who are totally committed and passionate about doing that, and won’t give up when hurdles are put in their way. I think the key things needed to be a journalist are an interest in the world around you, a passion to tell stories, and the ability to go out and talk to people. Read the papers, read books – learn as much as you can about the world we live in. Journalism training is very useful, but it’s not essential, and most people can’t afford to do it. I got a Scott Trust bursary, which helped, and there are a few others available. Some news organisations offer graduate programmes too. The most important training is going out and finding stories though. Try and get work experience, make contacts with local journalists, seek as much professional advise as you can. If you can afford to do it, try and get work experience on a local paper. If not, find stories and pitch them to editors. A nose for a great story will stand out to editors and potential employers far more than a CV full of placements at news organisations. Press Gazette 2016 l 11
SPONSORED FEATURE
In association with NCTJ
University of Sunderland invests £200,000 in mediaHUB newsroom The University of Sunderland is training journalists of the future in a new, state-of-theart newsroom managed by an ex-Sky journalist and two graduate interns.
The space boasts a bold colour scheme and is kitted out with up-to-date technology. The decor has been strongly influenced by the offices of Google, Netflix and Amazon. It even boasts a cloud-filled skyline, an aquarium lift and a garden-shed meeting room. The newsroom workflows are modelled on cutting edge practices used at leading media companies around the world. Under the guidance of India Adams-Norton as newsroom manager, who worked on Sky’s pioneering Tyne and Wear hyperlocal platform, students use the space to develop their digital and traditional journalism skills. Students are also supported by Scott McGerty as compliance manager who monitors output regulated by Ofcom. The mediaHUB provides a home for the University’s award-winning media brands – Spark FM, Spark Magazine and student-run websites SRNews, Sportsbyte, Fashion North and Northern Lights for local news, local sport, fashion and the arts. It’s primarily a learning and teaching space, providing a physical home for newsdays and one-off coverage events such as elections and football transfer deadline day. Work published on the sites reaches a global audience, with some content attracting traffic that would be the envy of major publishers. The opportunity to work on the sites and in the mediaHUB is embedded into our BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism, Journalism, Fashion Journalism, Sports Journalism and Broadcast Journalism degrees as well as our MAs in Journalism, Sports Journalism and Magazine Journalism. And all of the programmes are accredited by the NCTJ and other bodies. Experience gained here is already helping students land jobs at the likes of the BBC and Sky. 12 l 2016 Press Gazette
Life-changing The university is always keen to do things differently and create experiences for students that break the mould. The mediaHUB does exactly that. It was important that the space didn’t feel like a classroom or education space, but instead a professional workspace. Ex-mediaHUB intern Victoria Bainbridge said: “We love the new space, and the students think it’s amazing. There’s such a great atmosphere every day. People don’t have to be here, but it’s amazing how busy we are each day.” The space has over 150 students working on a regular basis, producing content for the various platforms.
About our student brands Spark is one of the UK’s most successful community media projects, it is run by student volunteers and members of the community. 107 Spark FM is Sunderland’s local radio station. Spark use industry standard equipped studios to produce and deliver great radio! Spark also operate a bi-monthly magazine and a TV channel online at SparkSunderland.com. SR News is a hyperlocal community news website. The website is operated by bright and enthusiastic journalism students on a voluntary basis. SportsByte is dedicated to covering sports at all levels of competition across Sunderland and the North East region as well as wider national sporting issues. With a team of over 100 reporters, they produce in-depth news stories, blogs, features, reviews and match reports.
Fashion North is a website for the people of the North East produced by vibrant fashion fans who want to inform, entertain and amaze you. Northern Lights is an arts and culture website for the North East, regularly invited to press nights, gigs, exhibitions, screenings around the North East, delivering the very best arts and culture content to readers.
What else happens at the mediaHUB? Work experience The mediaHUB offers a range of work experience opportunities to students and members of the community aged between15-25. Taster days School or college students can experience workshops, masterclasses and industry training delivered by academic lecturers and industry specialists. Live projects Business, charities and organisations across the region can work with us on live projects and commercial opportunities. Partnership opportunities The mediaHUB is looking to develop long term partnerships with organisations, charities, schools, colleges and companies.
Contact the University of Sunderland: India.Adams-Norton@sunderland.ac.uk for more information about the mediaHUB. For more information about admissions to our degree courses, email: student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk www.pressgazette.co.uk
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‘Get stuck in to the shorthand early on’ – and you could end up at Sky Sports News
Nemesha Balasundaram 27, from London is currently working as a sub-editor for Sky Sports News.
Here she shares her tips on making the most of your NCTJ course and getting a job afterwards. Why journalism? I’ve got a passion for writing and an inquisitive mind, so journalism seemed like a perfect match. I love that no two days are the same, and enjoy the adrenaline of working to deadlines. The profession is so varied and there are many opportunities to try your hand at different things – I’ve worked in print, online and broadcasting across news, entertainment and sport. Where did you study? I studied Law at the University of Southampton before studying for my NCTJ at News Associates in London. How was your NCTJ course? I studied for my NCTJ part-time alongside my role as a reporter at The Irish Post. It was tough balancing revision and course work with my job – particularly because classes were on Monday evenings and Saturdays, but it was worth the commitment. What tips do you have for getting the most out of the course? I would suggest getting stuck into shorthand early on – don’t become complacent as the time flies by. Don’t be afraid to ask your tutors for extra guidance, they’re always more than happy www.pressgazette.co.uk
to help. Attend the practical sessions where you get to create your own front pages. It’s a fun and useful way to start thinking like an editor. Tips on how to choose the best course? Make sure that you find an NCTJ-accredited course as there are many alternatives on offer. In particular, finding courses that offer high pass rates in shorthand is a good idea as it’s a very valued qualification when you enter the profession. It’s also a useful idea to find out where past students have gone on to work – it’ll give you an idea of what contacts your college have in the field. How did you get your job? Previously, I worked as an intern and then reporter for The Irish Post – building a strong portfolio of news and sports stories. I got my job at Sky after seeing the position advertised on their website, and by attending an interview. What do you enjoy about your job? I enjoy the fast-paced environment, the adrenaline of working in the Sky Sports studios and the ability to break stories to viewers. It’s exciting to be among the first to hear about football transfers, managerial appointments and being able to watch sport all day long is an
obvious draw. What are your next ambitions? My next goal is to progress through the ranks in the production team – improving my editorial judgment on what stories work well on TV in particular circumstances. Furthermore, I’m keen to continue developing my technical skills in cutting and editing video and audio footage. Would you recommend a career in journalism? Yes as it’s highly rewarding when you see your byline under a story you’ve written. Getting access to interview your favourite sports star or being able to travel while chasing a story are some of my favourite aspects of the job. What are your tips on how to get ahead in journalism and secure a job? It’s hard graft and often the rewards aren’t instant so be prepared to put in the work. Build a strong and varied portfolio of your best work, and accept that you may have to work for free in order to do this. Try to secure internships in local or regional papers/radios/TV stations and get stuck into as much as you can and make sure you build a contacts book. The hours can be long and the work quite demanding, but it’s definitely worth it. Press Gazette 2016 l 13
SPONSORED FEATURE
In association with NCTJ
Journalism at UCLan All the multimedia skills you need to be a professional journalist
If you want to watch events unfold, history happen and then report it, film it, tweet it, blog it and broadcast it, UCLan’s journalism courses are for you. This is the world of news on the move and our programmes offer all the multimedia skills you need to tell the story as a professional journalist. We don’t just teach you how to report news. If you want to work in magazines or for a new media company or even set up your own business, then we can help you achieve your ambition. We will train you for a career where every day is different and every word you write, every picture you take and every voice you record, will be important to someone. UCLan’s BA (Hons) Journalism degree is one of the longest-established and most prestigious undergraduate journalism courses in the UK. It is also one of the most innovative. The course offers you practical training in all aspects of multimedia journalism and media innovation, underpinned by journalism theory. It is accredited by all three journalism accreditation bodies: NCTJ, BJTC and PPA. You will be encouraged to work hard to complete all the NCTJ diploma exams and emerge from the programme with goldstandard professional qualifications in addition to your degree. 14 l 2016 Press Gazette
Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to aim high, to work like a professional, to be creative and original and to develop as an individual. Journalism has been taught in Preston for more than 50 years and we draw on all this experience to provide courses which produce outstanding graduates ready to work professionally in journalism, the creative industries and other allied careers. You will become part of our UCLan journalism network, joining graduates who now work for prestigious organisations such as BBC, ITV, Sky, The Sun, Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph. Our alumni work across the globe in places such as the USA, South America, Hong Kong and Dubai. Some are working in the new digital media working for websites, data-gathering companies, mobile application companies and some have even set up their own businesses. Journalism skills also transfer into a range of communication and web-based careers. Our MA Journalism is NCTJ-accredited and we also offer BJTC-accredited BA (Hons) Sports Journalism and MA Broadcast Journalism programmes. Additionally, we run BA and MA International Journalism programmes for budding foreign correspondents.
At UCLan, you will get the opportunity to meet some of the major players in the creative industries: editors, programme commissioners, producers, directors and digital entrepreneurs. We believe in actively working with our alumni and industry contacts to develop projects involving our students. We have developed partnerships with the BBC Talent Pool to give our students access to careers at Media City and we work with ITN to provide work placement opportunities. Each year we hold a major employability event – cJAM: Careers in Journalism and Media. This is attended by top industry figures across broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, music journalism, sports journalism, filmmaking and digital media. Our students pitch ideas to these professionals and the best ideas win students a placement with a top creative company. At our most recent event, 60 work placement or mentoring opportunities were won by our students with companies such as BBC, Sky News, ITN and CN Media. At UCLan, we believe our industry links are the key to our students’ success.
www.pressgazette.co.uk
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J OURNALISM
TRAINING 2016
‘Don’t give up, persevere and you will succeed’ How four aspiring journalists made it into the business - with a helping hand Over the last decade the Journalism Diversity Fund has handed out more than 200 grants to help people from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds get into journalism. It was launched a decade ago with support across the journalism industry to address concerns that publications were not reflecting the communities they were trying to represent. Here four Journalism Diversity Fund recipients share their experiences. www.journalismdiversityfund.com
Kal Sajad In my late twenties, through the encouragement of my girlfriend and the support of the JDF, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a journalist. I left my job in London and returned to university to study a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Salford’s MediaCity UK campus. The NCTJ accredited course, in which we covered modules such as news-writing, media law and public affairs, really did prepare me for a life as a journalist. With the broadcast focused modules, the real life news days and practical experience of making TV packages and producing radio features not only provided me with new skills but gave me a huge portfolio of work which I could showcase to employers. Through university links, I was given the www.pressgazette.co.uk
chance to freelance at BBC Sport Online. After a few months of freelancing shifts, I am now on my first full-time contract with the BBC, working on Euro 2016, Wimbledon and the Olympics. My advice to aspiring journalists is to just go for it and give it your all. If you have the drive and are willing to put in the hard work, then you’ll be a success.
Thomas Hewitt As an individual with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism, I can fully appreciate the exertions and challenges that a journalist like myself will frequently face. Fortunately, the support I received from the JDF, NCTJ and staff at Nottingham Trent University, provided me with the skills and confidence to pursue and achieve my goals as
Become a journalist with our help
a journalist, regardless of one’s disability. I studied for a Masters / PGDip in Digital and Newspaper Journalism at Nottingham Trent University. The training I undertook during my time there was particularly useful and revealed the various paths that were open to me following the completion of my course. Although I encountered difficulties during specific areas of the course, such as shorthand and media law, I was able to have numerous articles published for my local regional newspapers including the Nottingham Post and Nottinghamshire in Focus. My advice to those who want to make it as a journalist, is to listen to the advice and knowledge your peers share with you, be yourself, and not let anything hold you back. Anybody, regardless of who they are, can attain success in the world of journalism if you persevere and strive to be successful. Press Gazette 2016 l 15
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TRAINING 2016
Gemma Hodgson
A year ago becoming a journalist was just a dream but thanks to the support from the Journalism Diversity Fund and the Thomas Read Bursary my dream has now become a reality. Working towards my MA Sports Journalism has been intense but I can’t even imagine what it would have been like holding down a full time job alongside my studies. But the support from the NCTJ has given me the freedom to travel the country and find my voice as a journalist in this multimedia world, as well as some pretty exciting stories for my portfolio that I can now show to future employers. Having a disability in itself presents lots of challenges to training as a journalist but never once did I feel getting my NCTJ diploma wasn’t achievable and logging in to see my results after a particularly challenging exam I was more often than not pleasantly surprised at what I’d achieved. Sitting here now having been offered a place on the BBC Journalism Trainee Scheme it was all worth it and I know I will carry the skills I’ve acquired through the NCTJ Diploma with me for the rest of my career.
In association with NCTJ
Hannah Anstee
Being a single parent for many years prevented me from following a dream of becoming a journalist. When my daughter started to get older I realised that I could now have my chance and the Journalism Diversity Fund supported me to do this. I studied the Masters in Magazine Journalism at UCLan in Preston which is run by top industry professionals. NCTJ courses equip you with the skills that you will need to work professionally and also to stand out from the crowd. The first ever work that I got published was for a regional online newspaper whilst doing some work experience and this gave me the clippings I needed to show to other editors. I now work as a freelance for various lifestyle magazines and I am also the Beauty Editor and Travel Writer for YOGA Magazine. My advice for aspiring journalists is firstly, read anything that you can get your hands on, get to know who’s saying what and how they’re saying it, it’s essential to know your industry. Secondly, develop a specialism, you may not know what yours is yet but you will work it out. Lastly, don’t give up!
Become a journalist with our help
16 l 2016 Press Gazette
www.pressgazette.co.uk
Journalism at BU We have been teaching multimedia journalism for nearly 25 years as part of one of the biggest university media and communication faculties in Europe. Many journalism courses offer pathways, but at BU you will do a bit of everything – it is truly interdisciplinary and multimedia. We offer a mixture of technical skills, critical thinking and journalistic skills and you will move across platforms all the time, reflecting real-world journalistic practices and enhancing your employability skills.
Why BU? The BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism course at BU was the first journalism course in the UK to be accredited by the three main professional bodies: • The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) • National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) • Periodicals Training Council (PTC) Our students produce live news and broadcast bulletins and are tasked with gathering news and feature stories both nationally and locally. You will take on key roles as editors, news editors, convergence editors, and reporters on all of our media outlets, gaining invaluable knowledge and experience. As a student journalist you are encouraged to write and broadcast your work in an environment which replicates a “real world” setting. This includes seeing your work published in the fortnightly student newspaper, The Bournemouth Rock. In the ever-changing media landscape, core journalistic skills are at more of a premium than ever. Our courses are intensely practical, the mix of broadcasting and online writing sharpens the defining elements of cutting-edge journalism.
We offer state-of-the-art dedicated newsrooms and digitally equipped studios which conform to a professional working environment.
What our students and graduates say: “We brought live general election updates throughout the night. Our coverage was unique, it had a different edge to it, it was student focused and gave a younger perspective.” Laura McKenna, BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism student
“Studying Multimedia Journalism helped me appreciate all the different elements of media. I learned how to use TV and Radio as well as how to be a writer and journalist. Bournemouth University definitely opens doors for you.” Hannah Fernando, Executive Editor TimeInc Former BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism student www.pressgazette.co.uk
Bournemouth students have gone on to work at major journalism organisations in the UK, including: the BBC, Sky News, Press Association, ITN Reuters and various local, regional and national newspapers and magazines. Some 95% find jobs within six months of graduating.* (*Unistats).
“Graduates are very confident that they have the multidisciplinary skills they will need in the workplace. Our teaching staff have up-to-date professional experience as journalists: our lecturers, are relevant practitioners teaching students about things they understand. We’ve been doing this for a long time, but we are not resting on our laurels at all. We are constantly looking at how we can give the best possible experience to students.” Dr Karen Fowler-Watt, Head of School of Journalism, English & Communication Press Gazette 2016 l 17
SPONSORED FEATURE
In association with NCTJ
Your chance to make the news
The UK’s biggest national newspaper publisher News UK operates a free training scheme called the News Academy. Three graduates of the News Academy’s summer school tell us more.
George Harrison 20,
from Trowbridge in Wiltshire
Shingi Mararike 20,
from East Ham in London
“I was on a programme called the Young Journalists’ Academy which was like a precursor to the News Academy programme. “I asked for work experience on newspapers for ages. I finally got an internship on the sports desk at the Sunday Times last summer. I spent ten days there. “Now I’m at The Sunday Times Magazine as an editorial assistant - it’s a full-time job for the summer. “I write up most of the panels and do a lot of research surrounding most of the big features. I chase up the books that we’re going to serialise. I’m also pitching a lot of long-form feature ideas. Because I know The Sunday Times well from my other internships I can pitch ideas that are more whole-paper focused. “Three weeks into the job the referendum result rocked the paper to the core and they asked me to write a letter to Martin Ivens, editor of The Sunday Times, on behalf of young people on how aggrieved a lot of us were (which is arguable as only 35 per cent of us turned up- which I didn’t know then). “Impassioned and enraged, I wrote the letter. It got into that Sunday’s paper in the massive referendum spread. “I was next to the likes of Rod Liddle- all the big hitters - and then there was a picture of me with my arms folded on the overleaf spread, and my piece was there and the mailbag was 18 l 2016 Press Gazette
full with contrary opinions. “So many people supported me and I went and spoke to the editor himself afterwards just to say thanks. He said it was a very good piece and was very complementary. That was probably my greatest journalistic hit and it was based on chance. “I’m from probably the worst borough in London. It’s awful. But my school was pretty good. They gave me the opportunity to do the News Academy stuff. “I’m from a single-parent home. No one’s a journalist. “So the News Academy has given me, someone who’s not from a natural journalistic environment, a lead into the industry. “I was confident in my writing but the News Academy has given me confidence in other areas like learning how to talk to journalists, how to network and how to get my foot into the door. “Just being around these journalists and being encouraged to exchange ideas with them is an opportunity that has been given to me by the News Academy. “My advice is don’t pigeon hole yourself too much. “I at first was adamant I wanted to be a sports journalist but I think it’s good to be open-minded, especially when you’re young, because the newspaper world is not one in which there are a truck-load of jobs. “I think it’s good to be able to think about broadening your skillset as much as possible.“
“I applied to The Sun’s Great British Sound-Off competition which is basically a hunt for young columnists. I got my column in print, which was amazing, and then I got the chance to do a week at the News Academy over the summer. “And then from there I asked some of the people who were involved with the academy whether they had any shifts going and if I could try doing some work. “I did a couple of trial shifts and lasted okay so now I’ve been working here for about six months. “I’ve just finished my second year at LSE. In term-time I normally work weekends and over the holidays I’ve been doing a full-time working week. “I feel so privileged to be at The Sun. It’s nice that they’re willing to invest in young talent and offer opportunities to young people who perhaps wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to get into the industry. “I love how hectic things get when something big breaks. The whole office goes into overdrive and that’s when you really feel alive. “It’s been fantastic to be honest, everyone’s been nicer than I thought they were going to be, which has been a pleasant surprise. It’s a really nice place to work - I assumed it would be - but it’s surpassed every expectation. “It’s better than I could have dreamed, really. I feel very lucky. “Put yourself out there and pitch to people who probably won’t ever get back to you. If you pitch to 50 different people, there’s a chance that someone’s going to pick it up. “It’s just about being tenacious.” www.pressgazette.co.uk
SPONSORED FEATURE Shakeel Hashim 19, from Slough
“I was doing a lot of student journalism at university at Oxford. “There are quite a lot of good speakers who come to Oxford and The Sun had asked me to cover a couple of their events. “I wrote an article on Kanye West last year, which I think was the first time I started talking to them, and then someone who got in touch with me asked if I could cover another one. “I stayed in touch with the guys there, and I heard about News Academy through that and applied. “The summer school was amazing, probably one of the best things I’ve done. “George and I put ourselves forward to coedit the paper because we’d both had a lot of student journalism experience. “There was a really nice mix of people there. Some people hadn’t done much journalism before which was cool because they could come to it in really fresh ways, and some of us had done a lot. “Putting together a brand new paper from scratch was a daunting task but we had a huge amount of help. “We started off with quite a high aim. The mission statement of the paper was to reinvent the tabloid for the younger generation. “It took on the techniques that The Sun uses but applied them in a way that directly focused on a really young audience. “I think it worked out well. Towards the end of the week, once it was all done and printed, we were all very happy with it. We received really good feedback. “The five finalists for the column competition were each assigned a mentor. Mine was Oliver Harvey, who is one of The Sun’s top feature writers. “A couple of days after I first met him, he invited me into the office to have a chat, and while he was giving me a tour we bumped into Derek Brown, head of strategy at The Sun. “He offered me work experience in September. While I was doing that he said he’d like me to come back over Christmas. “So now I work as a casual in the university holidays. It’s a dream holiday job for someone like me who wants to be a journalist. “My advice to aspiring journalists is to get involved in as much student journalism as you can because the experience will help you more than anything else. “If you can do the summer school don’t hesitate to do it because it’s the best opportunity you’ll have to get your foot in the door of the industry. “Out of those of us who did it last year three of us are now here either full-time or part-time and I think that’s a pretty good indication of what the whole experience is like.” www.pressgazette.co.uk
Since 2014 News UK has run the News Academy to inspire the next generation of journalists. News UK is the publisher of some of the biggest and most popular British newspapers. The Times and The Sunday Times are the world’s bestknown quality newspapers, and The Sun remains the most read British newspaper. The News Academy has changed. We now work with 18 to 25 year olds and are creating our own talent agency, where we train, support and mentor budding journalists who are ready for work. We offer work experience, internships, special projects and for the best, paid work.
The News Academy annual summer school is the pinnacle of the program, and is free for budding journalists between 18 to 25 years old in the UK.
Young journalists can apply online (academy. news.co.uk) and 20 of the best are chosen to spend a week at the News Building creating their very own newspaper. We create a newsroom where the team work day, and sometimes through the night, to produce a newspaper in just one week. They create everything - from the newspaper’s name, the design and layout, to the headlines and content. Journalists from all our titles provide masterclasses and are on hand to help. At the end of the week the team travel to Broxbourne, the biggest printing site in the world, to see their newspaper rolling off the presses before returning to the News Building to meet the top editors and have their print publication critiqued. The 2016 summer school ran from Sunday 21 August to Friday 26 August.
The News Academy also has a work experience and internship programme at The Sun, The Sunday Times and The Times. Students get support and training in journalism whilst gaining experience, first by a one or twoweek work experience which then can lead to longer, paid internships. Those with potential but who are not quite ready to start an internship are not forgotten, they remain part of our young journalist network and continue to get our support and training. We also run special one-off projects with the titles, for example we’ve partnered with The Times Red Box on an EU Referendum project. Ten winners were published on the Red Box website and the overall winner was announced as Izzy Lyons. She joined the Red Box team for a week’s work experience, getting published on the Red Box website.
The Video Academy Digital Academy have
and The also been launched to reflect the growing importance of digital journalism, offering exciting opportunities for talented young video makers.
Students can get involved with News Academy activities by emailing newsacademy@news. co.uk and outlining why they would like to get involved in the News Academy. They should provide any links to their work, even if that is on their own blog, and a CV.
For more information and to keep up with the latest opportunities: @the_newsacademy TheNewsAcademy Email: newsacademy@news.co.uk Website: academy.news.co.uk Press Gazette 2016 l 19
SPONSORED FEATURE
In association with NCTJ
Follow these tips, and this could be you being paid to chat to the Chancellor… before you’ve even graduated In May 2016, eagle-eyed viewers of ITV’s new live Sunday morning political show would have spotted a young man chatting to the Prime Minister during the show’s opening sequence. A few days later, that same young man could be seen sitting in one of the University of Kent’s exam halls taking his final journalism exams. And the following week, there he was again, this time chewing the fat with George Osborne just before the chancellor began his live television interview with Robert Peston. The young man in question is Kishan Koria, and like many of his fellow students from Kent’s Centre for Journalism, he had landed a great job – in his case as a researcher for Peston on Sunday - before the exam season was even over. Now we can’t promise that all of our graduates will be hob-nobbing with Prime
Ministers before we’re finished with them. But we can lay justifiable claim to be the best in the business when it comes to getting them into great journalism jobs. That’s why we came top of The Times’s 2016 league tables for employability among university journalism departments. That’s why we have great scholarships from Sky News and the Daily Mail. And that’s why our students get snapped up by national and international broadcasters, newspapers, magazines and online publishers as soon as they finish our course. Our recent graduates bagged full-time jobs at the BBC, Sky News, Sky Sports News, the Daily Mail, The Sun, Autosport magazine, the China Morning Post, Newsquest, Local World, Johnston Press, the KM Group… to name just a few. Why? Because our demanding BA and MA courses, with their unique mix
Kishan Koria, who graduated from Kent in 2016, chats to George Osborne on Peston on Sunday.
of academic rigour and intense practical training, prepare them for anything their new employers can throw at them: from shooting and cutting TV and radio packages, to building online interactives and laying out newspaper and magazine pages with compelling headlines. If you want to be like Kishan, and all of our other graduates working in great journalism jobs, our best advice is to join us here at the Centre for Journalism in Kent.
Of course, another key point they understand is that you have to deliver on your headline. Which brings me to those 14 brilliant tips for setting yourself up for a career in journalism. 1. Choose an NCTJ-accredited course. The National Council for the Training of Journalists is the only body that runs professional exams as an objective measure of skill. Not many courses win its accreditation – because it’s tough. Industry employers know that’s why it’s worth it. 2. Be nosy. Journalism is about people. So if you’re someone who loves to know what’s going on, you’re off to a great start. 3. Build your personal brand. Your social media accounts, your Youtube channel, your blog…all of these help to demonstrate to admissions tutors and employers your skills at engaging an audience. 4. Be interested in the world. Our students have to attend news conference every morning to discuss the issues of the day in an informed way. 5. Get some work experience. A couple 20 l 2016 Press Gazette
of weeks in a newsroom at, say, your local newspaper, will give you great insight into the job. And impress admissions tutors. 6. Don’t be afraid to experiment. New forms of storytelling are emerging all the time in this golden age. 7. Read newspapers. The best reporters are usually the ones who consume the most journalism, whether it’s on newsprint… 8. Read magazines... on glossy paper. 9. Watch TV news... on television. 10. Listen to radio news... on the radio. 11. Interact with news online... on the web. 12. Read pressgazette.co.uk The sooner you start to understand how the industry works, the better. 13. Start learning shorthand. More useful than ever in a multimedia world where being first - and accurate - counts. Our students have to get up to 100 words per minute.
14. Choose an NCTJ-accredited course. Yes, we know it’s the same as number 1 – but it’s important enough to mention twice. And as a free bonus, number 15: come and visit us on Kent’s Medway campus to see for yourself why our students love us, and our employment record is so exceptional.
centreforjournalism.co.uk @cfjkent centreforjournalism Youtube/centreforjournalism
CentreforJournalism www.pressgazette.co.uk
J OURNALISM
The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) accredits courses in newspaper, magazine, broadcast journalism and photojournalism delivered at universities, colleges and independent centres throughout the UK. In order to achieve NCTJ accreditation for its course, each centre has to agree to adhere to a strict set of guidelines, to teach the whole of the NCTJ’s syllabus and to undergo regular inspection visits to maintain high standards.
PART-TIME Brighton Journalist Works City of Liverpool College News Associates – London News Associates – Manchester Press Association – London
All centres inside adhere to these guidelines, and have gained NCTJ accreditation for the courses listed.
HND Fife College Glasgow Clyde College
Whilst this list is regularly updated, the most up-to-date information can always be found on our website at: www.nctj.com/want-to-be-a-journalist/ course-search
UNDERGRADUATE Bournemouth University Brunel University De Montfort University Falmouth University Glasgow Caledonian University Glyndwr University Leeds Trinity University News Associates Manchester in partnership with University of St Mark & St John Nottingham Trent University Staffordshire University Teesside University University of Brighton University of Essex University of Central Lancashire University of Kent University of Lincoln University of Portsmouth University of Sheffield University of Sunderland
AT A GLANCE If you know what type of course you want to study, the following will help you decide which centre to attend: ACADEMIC YEAR (SEPTEMBER – JULY) City of Liverpool College City of Wolverhampton College Cornwall College Camborne Darlington College Harlow College Highbury College (in partnership with The News) Lambeth College North West Regional College DAY RELEASE Fife College Glasgow Clyde College FAST-TRACK (16 to 22 weeks) Brighton Journalist Works City of Liverpool College Cornwall College Camborne Harlow College Highbury College (in partnership with The News) Lambeth College News Associates - London News Associates - Manchester Press Association Training - London Press Association Training - Newcastle Sheffield College UCFB Wembley
www.pressgazette.co.uk
POSTGRADUATE Brunel University Cardiff University De Montfort University Glasgow Caledonian University Kingston University Leeds Trinity University Nottingham Trent University St Mary’s University, Twickenham Staffordshire University Teesside University University of Central Lancashire University of Kent University of Salford University of Sheffield University of Sunderland University of Sussex University of Ulster
TRAINING 2016
Full list of NCTJ accredited journalism courses for 2016/2017 BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY Page 6 Media School, Weymouth House, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset BH12 5BB Contact: Karen Fowler-Watt, 01202 965129 Email: kfowler-watt@bournemouth.ac.uk Website: www.bournemouth.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism BRIGHTON JOURNALIST WORKS The Argus, Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton BN1 8AR Contact: Richard Lindfield, 01273 540350 Email: richard.lindfield@journalistworks.co.uk Website: www.journalistworks.co.uk • Fast-track Diploma in Journalism (full-time and part-time) • Part-time Diploma (evening/weekend) BRUNEL UNIVERSITY Brunel University West London, School of Arts, Uxbridge UB8 3PH Contact: 01895 267273 Email: journalismadmissions@brunel.ac.uk Website: www.brunel.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Journalism • MA in Journalism CARDIFF UNIVERSITY Page 29 Centre for Journalism Studies, The Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NB Contact: Michael Hill, 029 2087 4084 Email: HillM10@Cardiff.ac.uk Website: www.cardiff.ac.uk • MA/PgDip in News Journalism CITY OF LIVERPOOL COLLEGE Journalism Unit, The Arts Centre, 9 Myrtle Street, Liverpool L7 7JA Contact: Alice Gregory, 0151 252 4366 Email: alice.gregory@liv-coll.ac.uk Website: www.liv-coll.ac.uk • Fast-track Diploma in Journalism • Academic year Diploma in Journalism • Part-time Diploma in Journalism CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE Paget Road, Wolverhampton WV6 0DU Contact: Danielle Wozencroft, 01902 317564 Email: wozencroftd@wolvcoll.ac.uk Website: www.wolvcoll.ac.uk • Academic year Diploma in Journalism
Press Gazette 2016 l 21
UCLAN LEADS THE WAY IN TEACHING JOURNALISM
UCLan is leading the way in journalism, with industry-accredited courses and more than 50 years’ teaching experience. BA (Hons) Journalism
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
A multimedia undergraduate degree course accredited by all three national industry training bodies: NCTJ, BJTC and PPA.
Accredited by the BJTC and provides studies not only in sports journalism but also in the structure of sport.
BA (Hons) International Journalism For students who wish to engage with global events, gain practical skills and study journalism in international contexts.
Foundation entry routes are available for all of our BA degrees MA Journalism
MA Broadcast Journalism
MA International Journalism
Accredited by the NCTJ, this course will develop the core reporting and technical skills needed to operate as a journalist.
With a reputation for the quality of its students and their success in obtaining employment in the industry, this course is accredited by the BJTC.
A highly-practical course which focuses on news production skills in a range of media, with a focus on international reporting and foreign correspondence.
cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk 01772 892400 www.uclan.ac.uk/journalism uclanjournalism
@journalismuclan
J OURNALISM CORNWALL COLLEGE CAMBORNE Opie Building, Trevenson Rd, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3RD Contact: Lindsey Kennedy, 01209 617650 Email: Lindsey.Kennedy@cornwall.ac.uk Website: www.cornwall.ac.uk • Academic year Diploma in Journalism • Fast-track Diploma in Journalism DARLINGTON COLLEGE Central Park, Haughton Road, Darlington, County Durham DL1 1DR Contact: Sue Calvert, 01325 503050 Email: scalvert@darlington.ac.uk Website: www.darlington.ac.uk • Academic year Diploma in Journalism DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH Contact: (MA) Ali Haynes, 0116 255 1551 Email: ahaynes@dmu.ac.uk Contact: (BA) John Dilley, 0116 2078810 Email: jdilley@dmu.ac.uk Website: www.dmu.ac.uk • MA/PgDip Journalism • BA (Hons) Journalism FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY Penryn Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE Contact: Rob Brown, 01326 259261 Email: rob.brown@falmouth.ac.uk Website: www.falmouth.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Journalism • BA (Hons) Sports Journalism FIFE COLLEGE St Brycedale Avenue, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY1 1EX Contact: Patrick Joyce, 01592 223136 Email: patjoyce@fife.ac.uk Website: www.fife.ac.uk • HND Practical Journalism • Day release Journalism GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY Caledonian Business School, City Campus, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA Contact: Julian Calvert, 0141 331 3844 Email: julian.calvert@gcu.ac.uk Website: www.gcu.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism • MA Multimedia Journalism GLASGOW CLYDE COLLEGE 690 Mosspark Drive, Glasgow G52 3AY Contact: Felicity Teasdale, 0141 272 3186 Email: Fteasdale@glasgowclyde.ac.uk Website: www.glasgowclyde.ac.uk • HND Practical Journalism • Day release – Newspaper Journalism www.pressgazette.co.uk
GLYNDWR UNIVERSITY Plas Coch Campus, Mold Road, Wrexham, Wales LL11 2AW Contact: Janet Jones, 01978 293572 Email: janet.jones@glyndwr.ac.uk Website: www.glyndwr.ac.uk • Certificate of Higher Education in Journalism HARLOW COLLEGE Velizy Avenue, Harlow, Essex CM20 3LH Contact: Lewis Heritage, 01279 868056 Email: lheritage@harlow-college.ac.uk Website: www.harlow-college.ac.uk • Academic year Diploma in Journalism HIGHBURY COLLEGE Department of Media Creative and Visual Arts, Dovercourt Road, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 2SA Contact: Paul Foster Email: journalism@highbury.ac.uk Website: www.highbury.ac.uk • Fast-track Newspaper Journalism • Diploma in Journalism (in partnership with The News) KINGSTON UNIVERSITY Faculty of Arts & Social Science, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE Contact: Fiona O’Brien, 0208 417 9000 Email: f.obrien@kingston.ac.uk Website: www.kingston.ac.uk • MA/PgDip Journalism LAMBETH COLLEGE Page 4 Clapham Centre, 45 Clapham Common South Side, London, SW4 9BL Contact: Diana Holden, 020 7501 5496 Email: courses@lambethcollege.ac.uk
TRAINING 2016
www.lambethcollege.ac.uk • Fast-track Newspaper Journalism • Fast-track Magazine Journalism • Diploma in Multimedia Journalism (one year)
Website:
LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY Page 2 Centre for Journalism, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5HD Contact: Catherine O’Connor, 0113 283 7180 Email: c.oconnor@leedstrinity.ac.uk Website: www.leedstrinity.ac.uk • MA/PgDip Print and Digital Journalism • BA (Hons) Journalism NEWS ASSOCIATES - LONDON 247 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SD Contact: Rachel Bull, 0870 445 0155 Email: training@newsassociates.co.uk Website: www.newsassociates.co.uk • Fast-track Diploma in Multimedia Journalism • Part-time Diploma Multimedia Journalism • Multimedia Sports Journalism NEWS ASSOCIATES - MANCHESTER Barclay House, 35 Whitworth Street West, Manchester, M1 5NG Contact: Andrew Greaves, 0870 445 0155 Email: training@newsassociates.co.uk Website: www.newsassociates.co.uk • Fast-track Diploma in Multimedia Journalism • Part-time Diploma Multimedia Journalism • Multimedia Sports Journalism • BA (Hons) Journalism in partnership with University of St Mark & St John
STUDY JOURNALISM Taught by professional journalists • NCTJ accreditation • placement opportunities • newsroom with live newsfeed • professional level equipment
GET TO KNOW US AT AN OPEN DAY
www.brighton.ac.uk/journalism
Press Gazette 2016 l 23
Jacob Lewis - features and travel writer for The Sun
Mathilde Guenegan - producer for LC1 in France
Our graduates get great jobs
Lydia Hamilton - producer for ITN Meridian
Alan McGuinness - online producer for Sky News
Sara Malm - journalist for Mail online
And they’re happy to tell you how youtube.com/centreforjournalism
MA Multimedia Journalism
24 l 2016 Press Gazette
www.pressgazette.co.uk
J OURNALISM
NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE D3.305 Northland Building NWRC, Strand Road, Derry, BT48 7AL Contact: Suzanne Rodgers, 028 7127 6161 Email: suzanne.rodgers@nwrc.ac.uk Website: www.nwrc.ac.uk • Academic year Diploma in Journalism NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY Centre for Broadcasting & Journalism, Room 2103 Chaucer Building, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LT Contact: (BA) Claire Field, 0115 848 5806 Email: claire.field@ntu.ac.uk Contact: (MA) Helen Ainsworth, 0115 848 5803 Email: helen.ainsworth@ntu.ac.uk Website: www.ntu.ac.uk/cbj • BA (Hons) Journalism • MA/PgDip Newspaper Journalism • MA Magazine Journalism PRESS ASSOCIATION TRAINING CENTRE - NEWCASTLE Thomson House, Groat Market, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 1ED Contact: Paul Jones, 0844 836 4000 Email: paul.jones@pressassociation.com Website: www.becomeareporter.co.uk • Diploma in Multimedia Journalism • Multimedia Sports Journalism
The place to be for the best professional training, work placements The place The place and graduate success to be in sports journalism to be stories for the best professional for the best MAprofessional Sports Journalism training, work placements Email: journalism@stmarys.ac.uk training, work placements graduate success and graduateand success stories in sports journalism ST MARY’S UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE stories in sports journalism
School of Communications, Culture and Ad_Sports Journalism_JUN16.indd 1 Creative Arts, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, London, TW1 4SX Contact: Dr Daragh Minogue, 020 8240 4111 Email: daragh.minogue@stmarys.ac.uk Website: www.smuc.ac.uk/postgraduate/ sports-journalism • MA/PgDip Sports Journalism
SHEFFIELD COLLEGE Livesey Street, Hillsborough, S6 2ET Contact: Matthew Neale, 0114 260 2357 Email: matthew.neale @sheffcol.ac.uk Website: www.sheffcol.ac.uk • Fast-track Diploma in Journalism STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY Department of Journalism, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DE Contact: Pete Leydon, 01782 294785 Email: p.w.leydon@staffs.ac.uk Website: www.staffs.ac.uk/journalism • BA (Hons) Journalism • BA (Hons) Journalism (two-year) • MA Journalism
www.pressgazette.co.uk
Dept of Journalism, Preston, Lancs PR1 2HE 28/06/2016 13:03 Contact: Deborah Robinson (BA), 01772 894749 Email: drobinson3@uclan.ac.uk Contact: Julie Freer (MA), 01772 894750 Email: jefreer@uclan.ac.uk Website: www.ukjournalism.org • BA (Hons) Journalism • MA/PgDip Journalism 28/06/2016 • MA Magazine Journalism 28/06/2016 13:03
MA Sports Journalism MA Sports Journalism Email: journalism@stmarys.ac.uk Email: journalism@stmarys.ac.uk
Ad_Sports Journalism_JUN16.indd 1 Ad_Sports Journalism_JUN16.indd 1
PRESS ASSOCIATION TRAINING CENTRE - LONDON 292 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1AE Contact: Fiona Webster, 0844 836 4000 Email: fiona.webster@pressassociation.com Website: www.becomeareporter.co.uk • Diploma in Multimedia Journalism • Part-time Diploma in Multimedia Journalism • Multimedia Sports Journalism
TRAINING 2016
TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY School of Arts and Media, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley TS1 3BA Contact: Paul Bailey, 01642 342377 Email: p.bailey@tees.ac.uk Website: www.tees.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism • BA (Hons) Sports Journalism • MA Journalism UCFB WEMBLEY Page 30 Wembley Stadium, Wembley HA9 0WS Contact: Roz McKenzie Email: r.mckenzie@ucfb.com Website: www.ucfb.com • Fast-track Diploma in Journalism UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON Page 23 School of Sport and Service Management, Hillbrow, Denton Road, Eastbourne BN20 7SR Contact: Ben Parsons, 01273 643852 Email: : B.T.Parsons@brighton.ac.uk Website: www.brighton.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Journalism • BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX Page 27 Dept of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, C04 3SQ Contact: Jonathan Baker Email: jcbaker@essex.ac.uk Website: www.essex.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN Lincoln School of Journalism, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS Contact: Sue North, 01522 886 273 Email: snorth@lincoln.ac.uk Website: lincoln.ac.uk/home/course/joujouub • BA (Hons) Journalism UNIVERSITY OF KENT Page 24 Centre for Journalism, Gillingham Building, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4AG Contact: Tim Luckhurst, 01634 202913 Email: t.luckhurst@kent.ac.uk Contact: Ian Reeves, 01634 202913 Email: i.reeves@kent.ac.uk Website: www.centreforjournalism.co.uk • BA (Hons) Journalism • MA Multimedia Journalism
Press Gazette 2016 l 25
13:03
NCTJ accredited courses – look for the kitemark of quality journalism training.
We don’t sell the dream of a journalism career. We accredit the reality.
The National Council for the Training of Journalists delivers the premier training scheme for journalists in the UK. An NCTJ qualification equips students with the skills they need to become effective journalists in a fast-changing multimedia industry. The majority of successful journalists working in print, broadcast and online are NCTJ trained and qualified. Major newspaper and broadcast employers say they prefer NCTJ qualified applicants. NCTJ accreditation is the hallmark of excellence for journalism courses. NCTJ accredited courses are available at undergraduate and postgraduate degree level, as fast-track and academic year courses, and as part-time evening and weekend courses. An NCTJ qualification is also available as part of the trailblazer apprenticeship for a junior journalist.
For more information, including a list of accredited courses, visit
www.nctj.com
26 l 2016 Press Gazette
LOOK FOR THE KITEMARK OF
QUALITY JOURNALISM TRAINING www.pressgazette.co.uk
J OURNALISM
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH The School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3AS Contact: Bernie Saunders, 02392 842177 Email: bernie.saunders@port.ac.uk Website: www.port.ac.uk • BA (Hons) Journalism
A guide to some journalism lingo:
TRAINING 2016 GLOSSARY Broadsheet A large format newspaper (such as The Daily Telegraph). But can also include other upmarket tabloid-size titles, such as The Times. Byline Your name at the top of a story.
UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD School of Arts and Media, MediaCityUK, Salford, M5 2HE Contact: Paul Broster, 0161 295 6362 Email: p.broster@salford.ac.uk Website: www.salford.ac.uk • MA/PgDip Journalism
Caption Explanatory words next to a photo. Chapel Name for the National Union of Journalists group at a publication. Death knock Macabre
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD Page 27 Department of Journalism Studies, 9 Mappin Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 4DT Contact: David Holmes, 0114 222 2501 Email: d.b.holmes@sheffield.ac.uk Website: www.shef.ac.uk • BA Journalism Studies • MA /PgDip Print Journalism UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND David Puttnam Media Centre, St Peter’s Campus, Sunderland SR6 0DD Contact: Lee Hall, 0191 515 2707 Email: lee.hall@sunderland.ac.uk Website: www.sunderland.co.uk • BA Journalism • BA Broadcast Journalism • BA Fashion Journalism • BA Magazine Journalism • BA Sports Journalism • MA Journalism • MA Magazine Journalism • MA Sports Journalism
term for calling at the home of the relative of a deceased person.
Editors’ Code
A list of ethical rules which cover members of IPSO (see below).
IPSO The Independent
Press Standards Organisation. Self regulation body covering most newspapers and magazines.
Page 8
Leader The editorial column of a newspaper. Libel A story which
harms someone’s reputation. If it is untrue it could cost your publication a lot of money.
Masthead The
newspaper’s name as it appears on its front page.
Off the record
UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX School of Media, Film & Music, Silverstone Room 220, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RG Contact: Julie Fletcher, 01273 877538 Email: j.fletcher@sussex.ac.uk Website: www.sussex.ac.uk • MA Multimedia Journalism
Journalism’s Bigger Picture.
A conversation where your source does not want to be named. They may still let you quote them as an anonymous source or let you use the information, without quoting or attribution (on background).
Journalism Studies at Sheffield enjoys a legendary status in the media industry. Editors know Sheffield graduates have what it takes to be the best. And because we’re experienced journalists as well as world-class researchers, students on our professionally accredited courses get journalism’s bigger picture. Outstanding teaching of practical skills – and insights into media history, law, ethics, freedom of speech. We don’t just teach you how: we show you why. That’s why our graduates work for the BBC, Sky, C4, and in newspapers, radio and digital worldwide. Find out more at www.sheffield.ac.uk/journalism and @sheffjournalism – and be ready to join them.
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER School of Media, Film and Journalism, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA Contact: Maggie Swarbrick, 028 7032 3130 Email: mm.swarbrick@ulster.ac.uk Website: www.ulster.ac.uk • MA Journalism
Off diary Stories
which journalists find themselves, rather than news events which are known about in advance – so are in the diary.
Sub editor A journalist whose job is to check the work of others, lay it out on a page and write headlines.
Press Gazette 2016 l 27
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27/06/2016 16:03:16
J OURNALISM
TRAINING 2016
In association with NCTJ
Earn while you learn as a journalism apprentice Since 2013 the NCTJ has begun offering apprenticeships as an alternative to the university route into journalism. They offer the chance for aspiring journalist to earn a wage while they learn on the job. Organisations which have taken NCTJ apprentices include the Evening Standard and BBC. We spoke to three journalism apprentices:
Robby West 29, is working as a reporter for BBC Look East. After leaving school at 16 with no notable grades, I fell into a career as an electrician. I spent over a decade working on the tools, but I always knew my heart was not in it and I dreamed of a career as a journalist. I was making YouTube documentaries when I saw the BBCLAS (BBC Local Apprenticeship scheme) being advertised. I have finished my apprenticeship now - I loved it. It put me into a newsroom and gave me a chance. The best experience so far has been interviewing some of the leading political figures in our country and getting a job as a TV Reporter at BBC Look East. The worst was walking a mile out to sea to report on a dead whale that had washed up. My poor shoes never recovered. 28 l 2016 Press Gazette
Krystal Starkey 22,
Daniel Wright 21,
is lifestyle editor of Your Local Link.
is a reporter for the KM Group.
I had always fantasised about the idea of being a journalist and saw it as a pipe dream. I loved keeping up with current affairs and took pride in telling other people what was going on. When I was offered a part time position at Your Local Link media in the sales department I jumped at it. I wasn’t sure how I would be able to turn the job into a career in journalism but I felt like it was a step in the right direction. Eventually I approached my employer and pitched to them what I wanted to do in the company. It took a little bit of persuading but by September 2014 following an entrance exam and interview at Darlington College I began my full time apprenticeship as a trainee journalist with the media group, who publish four monthly magazines and one monthly newspaper. For me the apprenticeship was about being able to work and earn while I trained to be a journalist. I could afford to buy my own car and support my mum at home too. I have loved the apprenticeship and can honestly say it’s been the most challenging and fulfilling education experience I’ve had. It’s not easy, the course is demanding, the NCTJ want to make sure that the journalists they send out into the publishing world are fully equipped for what lies ahead of them. I’ve had a couple of really great experiences throughout the apprenticeship. I applied for ITV and Media Trust’s Breaking Into News scheme as I was lucky enough to be the Yorkshire regional finalist where I produced a feature for on screen which was aired on the 6 o clock news with ITV Calendar.
I always enjoyed English at school so journalism was a natural thing for me to try. I enjoy the buzz of breaking a story and the pride and enjoyment in building a portfolio of varied copy. It is hard work, but by putting the effort in you reap the rewards. It is a great job and never gets stale - you never know what you will be doing from one day to the next. During my two-year apprenticeship I worked across the KM Media Group’s editorial departments, switching from department to department every three months. After moving from Maidstone to the company’s headquarters at Medway, a threemonth stay on the East Kent sports desk followed. I moved to the What’s On leisure desk after that, before the chance to jump up to trainee reporter at the Whitstable Gazette came about. I spent a year covering the Whitstable patch in our busy Wraik Hill office, before switching to the Herne Bay Gazette in December last year, passing my NQJ senior reporter exams in April. University never appealed to me so when the chance to break into the media industry without spending thousands of pounds on course fees came about, I was always going to go for it. The scheme’s job description offered a structured two-year development plan, and it certainly delivered. Without the apprenticeship, I would never be in the position I am now – it has been a blast since the get-go. While many of my school mates are just gearing up to leave university, I’m off and running as a senior reporter at 21 years of age. www.pressgazette.co.uk
Where media Careers begin At Cardiff University we offer postgraduate courses that range from UK accredited practice based, digitally driven multi-platform journalism degrees to more academic and research based communication degrees that challenge our perceptions of the 24/7 media landscape. We offer a nationally recognised teaching and training environment where students can study News, Broadcast and Magazine Journalism and yet still specialise in Sport, Consumer, Data, Business and Politics. If you have a desire to tell your story to the world, why study anywhere else than the top ranked Journalism and Public Relations school in the UK.
We offer:
MA BROADCAST JOURNALISM
MA POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
Accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC)
How image-based politics, the 24-hour news cycle and the globalised media are shaping politics
MSC COMPUTATIONAL AND DATA JOURNALISM
MBA MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Exploring the interface between technology and journalism
MA INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM Offers a mix of practice and theory for aspiring journalists and mid-career practitioners
MA MAGAZINE JOURNALISM
Provides specialised media knowledge and a background in business management theory and practice
MSC SCIENCE, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION The practical and theoretical skills needed to understand the relationships between science, society and the media
Accredited by the Professional Publishers Association (PPA)
MA DIGITAL MEDIA AND SOCIETY
MA NEWS JOURNALISM
Exploring the role of new digital media in shaping and transforming society
Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)
MA JOURNALISM, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS Exploring journalism ethics, internet governance, community media and global communications
MA INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
We also offer the following Single Honours Undergraduate degrees:
Journalism and Communications / Media and Communications / Media, Journalism and Culture
And also the following Joint Honours Undergraduate degrees:
Journalism, Communications and Politics / Journalism, Media and English Literature / Journalism, Media and Sociology / Welsh and Journalism Contact us on; +44 (0)2920 874786 or email; jomec-MA@cardiff.ac.uk
/CardiffJomec
Visit our website: www.cardiff.ac.uk/journalism-media-cultural-studies
@CardiffJomec
Rank
by th ed 1st e for Jo Guardian urn and P alism u Relat blic ions
Blog: jomec.co.uk
NCTJ Diploma in Journalism
Fast Track
Location: UCFB Wembley
Study inside the iconic Wembley Stadium! Get NCTJ qualified in six months while being trained in inspirational surroundings
U
CFB Wembley’s NCTJ Diploma
shorthand, for a range of digital,
in Journalism is the only short
print, video and broadcast platforms
course in the UK to offer the
by experienced senior journalists.
Broadcasting module in radio and
NCTJ students are expected to
television – skills which media
secure short term work placements
companies are increasingly requiring
with the support of tutors and
in a multi-platform age. Students will
will also have the opportunity to
have access to a bespoke mobile
contribute to the sports website
radio studio and one of Wembley’s
SportsVibe. There will be visits to
two TV studios overlooking the pitch.
the Greater London Authority,
Alternatively, candidates can choose
magistrates and crown courts, Sky
options in Sports Journalism or
plus a variety of guest speakers who
Production Journalism. All students
work in newsrooms or have daily
will be trained in the core skills of
contact with journalists.
reporting, including 100wpm
UCFB students study in classrooms inside Wembley Stadium.
For more information and careers advice, contact us on 020 8733 8664, nctj@ucfb.com or visit www.ucfb.com/pressgazette. www.pressgazette.co.uk
30 l 2016 Press Gazette
J OURNALISM
TRAINING 2016
If I knew then what I know now…
ten pieces of advice to my younger self, by Dominic Ponsford
As editor of Press Gazette I’m often asked for advice from aspiring journalists. If I was starting out on my journalism career today, here is the advice I would give myself:
1
Practice, practice, practice. I was lucky enough to be able get high marks in most academic exams through last-minute cramming. That won’t work in journalism, it is a craft and requires practice to perfect. Writing a good news story intro is like hitting a good tennis serve, the only way you are going to get it right is by trying and failing a number of times. Get all the experience you can, particularly on student publications. And be patient. News writing is a precise discipline which is very different from the academic style.
2
Shorthand. It’s the skill that sets the serious journalist apart from the enthusiastic amateur. Like news writing it will only come with a lot of practice so as soon as you have decided to do journalism training buy a shorthand textbook (Teeline) and start learning it. A shorthand speed of 100 words per minute is essential for any general news reporter job because without it you can’t cover court (where tape recorders are banned).
3
Unless you have a bloody good memory you are going to need a voice recorder and a telephone mic. While you are getting your shorthand speed up use an inear telephone mic (about £10 on Amazon) to tape phone interviews. You will also need your smartphone or dictaphone to record face to face interviews. Even when you have 100 words per minute shorthand you will need to record longer interviews as people speak a lot faster than that.
www.pressgazette.co.uk
4
Become a geek. There is a debate about whether traditional skills such as shorthand are as important as new skills such as computer coding. It’s not either or, get them all. If you can learn the basics of HTML (the code behind web pages) and other computer languages such as Python you will dramatically improve your employability.
8
Create your own blog and experiment with embedding widgets and other digital bells and whistles. Get on Twitter, Facebook, Google + and any other social media platform you can think of. Social media is all the rage in journalism nowadays.
Oh, and about the money. Journalism can be low paid considering the high level of skills and training which it requires. Starting salaries are typically around £18,000. Even a senior reporter on a local paper might be on £20-25,000. The sky’s the limit earningswise for star journalists and the profession can also be a grounding for a more lucrative career in PR, corporate communications, TV presenting or something else entirely. Money may not matter to you so much now, but it may in ten years time. So it is worth considering that typically even teachers and policeman nowadays earn more than journalists (and they have better pensions). That said, they probably don’t have nearly as much fun.
6
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7
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5
The same goes for data. Data journalism is another buzz phrase in the industry. It basically involves taking large dull-looking groups of numbers and finding stories in them. Again, if you can learn some data skills you are going to put yourself ahead much of the competition. At its most basic it could just be getting a list of election results, putting them into a spreadsheet and then using a programme such as Datawrapper to create a pretty-graph which you cut and paste into your website. Believe it or not, becoming a whizz with Excel is one of the most useful skills you can have as a journalist.
Enjoy yourself. Journalism is not the best paid job in the world. People do it because it is fun and maybe because they also want to make a difference. There is a great tradition in this country of controlled anarchy in newsrooms. Keep it up.
When it comes to getting your first job treat your covering letter and CV with as much care as a front page story. If you write a covering letting which grabs the reader’s attention, which shows (but doesn’t tell) how you are the most enthusiastic and best suited person for that job you will get an interview. Most people write dull, formulaic covering letters full of stock phrases such as “I have a passion for yada yada”, “I am honest and hard working”, “I’m a good team player”. These go straight in the bin. Show you can write with flare and originality.
Remember with stories, finding a job, getting on a course and many other aspects of journalism every no gets you closer to a yes. You have to fail in this game in order to succeed. Don’t get disheartened because everyone has been there. Press Gazette 2016 l 31
Dreaming of a career in journalism? The News Academy is News UK's programme to help and inspire the next generation of journalists. We are open to
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